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Covid is causing all sorts of problems for prospective adopters and the experience with children. You could try your local schools but failing that you could try your local scout group again. They should be returning to face-to-face meets soon. You could also look a bit closer to home. Do you have any friends or family who would be happy for you to babysit? At least that would be a something. Whatever happens, you will find volunteering experience eventually. It will be really worthwhile and your agency will eventually ask them for a reference to use as part of your prospective adopters report (PAR). That's why they prefer volunteering with organisations. Fingers crossed for you.

This organisation is brilliant, https://do-it.org/ my daughter found placements locally.

Have you tried your local children's contact centre, https://naccc.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer

This might be less suitable, but is on-line, https://www.theaccessproject.org.uk/

good luck

We contacted our local Council arranged messy play and therapy group leader after asking for the organisers number and they met up with us and discussed what we wanted to do and why. It wasn't easy and we had alot of waiting and rejections from alot of places but they were most helpful to us and helped make arrangements. Covid stopped all of our progress in this part but it was easier once we got the right person... Don't give up ? it's frustrating but you will find something.

Thanks all, for the suggestions. I've called around a few local nurseries and they are very willing to consider us, but unfortunately they can't allow even parents into the schools and have no idea when that might change.

I've also tried local scouts, local football team and a number of local volunteer groups.

We do have some friends who have jumped at the chance of some free babysitting, so that is something :)

Anyway, fingers crossed that we will get there soon.

I wonder if contacting some special needs groups to act as a mentor / befriended for a young person / older child might be possible. I meant the person who might take them out once a week to give them an outing but also parents a break? To give you some experience of sen

Thanks Safia and all for the suggestions. I do have a very positive update. I have found an opportunity that I think really suits me. I'm going to be assisting a local Little Kickers group, with a view to becoming a football coach myself. ?

My wife is still looking for opportunities, so we will continue to investigate the suggestions above. We have found this charity and they are looking for volunteers to help children read and this can be done virtually via zoom calls etc. It's likely not as effective as direct contact, but hopefully it's somewhere we can add value and develop experience.

https://volunteer.bookmarkreading.org/

Thanks again all, for your support and suggestions.